Interested in submitting to FSR? We recommend that you review FSR's Scope, Policies, and the Author Guidelines. Authors need to register prior to submitting or, if already registered, can log in and begin the submission process.

Introduction

Financial Services Review (FSR) is the official peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of Financial Services and the leading outlet for research on the financial behavior, decisions, and outcomes of individuals and households. Published as a Diamond Open Access journal, FSR is freely accessible to readers and authors worldwide, with no submission or article processing fees.

The Publication Process

Once a manuscript is submitted to FSR, the following steps apply:

Initial Assessment. The editor conducts an initial review to assess whether the manuscript falls within FSR's scope and meets minimum standards for peer review. Manuscripts that do not meet these requirements may be returned to the author without review.

Double-Blind Peer Review. Manuscripts that pass initial assessment are sent to at least two independent expert reviewers. Neither the authors nor the reviewers are aware of each other's identity. Reviewers assess the manuscript against structured criteria encompassing contribution to the literature, research design, results and interpretation, implications for research and practice, and clarity of communication.

Editorial Decision. Based on the reviewers' assessments, the editor will notify the authors about the outcome of the review. All decisions are communicated to the corresponding author with reviewer feedback.

Revised Submissions. Authors invited to revise and resubmit are asked to provide a detailed response to each reviewer comment alongside their revised manuscript. Revised manuscripts may be returned to the original reviewers at the editor's discretion.

Early Access Publication. Accepted manuscripts are published online individually as soon as production is complete, receiving a DOI and becoming immediately accessible and fully citable. This constitutes the final version of record.

Issue Assignment. Articles published in Early Access are subsequently assigned to a specific volume and issue, while retaining the same DOI and article identifier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee to submit or publish in FSR?

No. FSR is a Diamond Open Access journal, which means there are no submission fees, article processing charges, or access fees of any kind. All published research is freely available to readers worldwide.

Can practitioners submit to FSR?

Yes. FSR welcomes contributions from practitioners actively involved in financial planning, financial services, and professional associations. Practitioner submissions should present innovative ideas, new information, or suggest new avenues of research relevant to individual financial management. They are subject to the same double-blind peer review process as academic submissions.

Can I submit a pedagogical paper?

Yes. FSR accepts pedagogical papers that advance financial services education at the university level. Appropriate submissions may address curriculum content, teaching methods, or educational materials. Pedagogical papers are subject to peer review.

What criteria will my manuscript be assessed against?

Reviewers assess manuscripts against structured criteria covering: contribution to and engagement with the literature, research design and empirical strategy, results and interpretation, implications for research, practice, and policy, and clarity and quality of communication. Authors are encouraged to consider these criteria when preparing their manuscript.

Can I submit a working paper or preprint?

Yes, subject to FSR's Prior Publication(s) policy. Working papers posted on institutional repositories or servers such as SSRN, NBER, or RePEC are not considered prior publications and do not preclude submission. Please refer to the Prior Publication(s) section on the FSR Policies page for full details.

What happens if my manuscript is rejected?

Authors who believe a material error was made in the review process may appeal the decision in writing to the editor. Appeals based solely on disagreement with reviewers' assessments will not be considered. Please refer to FSR's Complaints and Appeals section on the FSR Policies page for further details.